Category: UFC

The heavyweight bout opened up the preliminary card of today’s UFC 218 event at the new Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass ahead of additional prelims on FS1 and a main card on pay-per-view.

Crowder hoped to take away Willis’ power base with leg kicks, but Willis repeatedly caught his legs and repaid the effort with quick combinations. Just one minute in, Crowder’s face was reddened from the counters.

Willis slowly closed in when he discovered Crowder’s punches were not a significant threat. Then he threw a left hook off an exchange, and Crowder backpedaled to the cage, obviously hurt.

Crowder tried to cover up, but Willis caught him flush with a left hook, and the fight was quickly called off with the concussive shot.